NISA Nation
Organizing bodyNISA
FoundedSeptember 17, 2020 (2020-09-17)
First season2021
CountryUnited States
ConfederationCONCACAF
(North American Football Union)
Divisions4
Number of teams22
Domestic cup(s)U.S. Open Cup
League cup(s)NISA Independent Cup
International cup(s)CONCACAF Champions League
(via U.S. Open Cup)
Current champion(s)NoVa FC (1st title)
Most championshipsNoVa FC (1 title)
TV partnersEleven Sports
Websitenisanation.com
Current: 2023 NISA Nation season

NISA Nation is a semi-professional men's soccer league in the United States. The league is below the professional leagues in the United States soccer league system and began play in 2021. NISA Nation is affiliated with the third tier professional league National Independent Soccer Association.[1][2]

History

On August 25, 2021, Atlantic City FC was announced as the first club of the newly formed league.[3] Two weeks later, NISA Nation announced they had six teams for their inaugural season and they would play a 10 game schedule in the Northeast Region. This inaugural region included the leagues first promoted team, Steel Pulse FC from the Eastern Premier Soccer League.[4] In October 2021, NISA Nation announced the start of a second region. The Southwest Region was started with four teams, each team playing six games in a round robin format.[5] New Jersey Alliance FC beat New Amsterdam FC II 4–0 to secure the first regional championship for the Northeast Region.[6] In early January 2022, FC Golden State Force claimed the first Southwest Region championship.[7]

On January 6, 2022, it was announced that NISA Nation earned from the United States Adult Soccer Association the USASA provisional national league license, a license that gave recognition to the league and that opens the way to U.S. Open Cup spots directly from the league.[8] The Florida Region was announced in the Spring of 2022, with five teams facing each other three times in the Orlando area.[9] In addition to the Florida Region, NISA Nation announced that the Northeast Region's spring season would consist of eight clubs playing 10 games a piece. The defending champions New Jersey Alliance FC, returned to defend their title during the spring season.[10] In May 2022, the Pacific Region was announced with four teams, playing a 12 game schedule.[11] This brought the league to 23 teams for the Spring of 2022.[12] Each region crowned a champion for the 2022 NISA Nation season. The four champions were Club De Lyon (Florida Region), New Jersey Alliance FC (Northeast Region), Battleborn FC (Pacific Region), and Capo FC (Southwest Region).[13]

NISA Nation announced in early 2023 that the Southwest region would return for play in the spring with six clubs, including three previous clubs and three new clubs: AS Los Angeles, SC Union Maricopa, and Olympiacos CA.[14] In early 2023, NISA Nation announced the addition of the Pacific Division for the spring, with five teams committed and ten teams planned.[15] In July 2023, NISA Nation announced the formation of the Texas Region for fall 2023.[16] For the fall of 2023, NISA Nation ran three regional leagues; Pacific, Southwest, and Texas Regions.[17] In October 2023, NISA Nation announced that they would hold their inaugural national championship, which would have three round to determine the National Champions.[18]

NISA Independent Cup

Teams from NISA Nation participated in the 36 team NISA Independent Cup in 2022.[19]

U.S. Open Cup

Clubs in NISA Nation can qualify for the U.S. Open Cup through the local qualifying route. In 2022, five clubs from NISA Nation applied to participate in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup. Battleborn FC, Capo FC, SC Union Maricop, Club De Lyon, and Deportivo Lake Mary all started the 2023 U.S. Open Cup qualification[20] Capo FC and Club De Lyon qualified to compete in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup.[21] Capo FC advanced the furthest in the competition making it into the second round.[22] Five teams took part in the 2024 U.S. Open Cup qualification. Battleborn FC and Capo FC participated in their second qualification tournament and Bay Area United FC, JASA RWC, and Temecula FC participating for the first time as a member of NISA Nation.[23] Temecula FC advanced furthest, making it to the fourth qualifying round before losing to Irvine Zeta FC.[24]

Associations

NISA Nation is affiliated and plans to begin a pro-rel system with 6 leagues all over the country: the Cascadia Premier League[25] in Washington and Oregon, the Eastern Premier Soccer League[26] in the north east, the Mountain Premier League in the Rocky Mountains region, and the Southwest Premier League in the southwestern United States, the Gulf Coast Premier League in the deep south, the Pioneer Premier League in Tennessee and Kentucky, the Midwest Premier League[27] in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin and Missouri. In 2023 reaffirmed their association with Cascadia Premier League, Eastern Premier Soccer League, Mountain Premier League, and Southwest Premier League. This aligned all four leagues top division aside NISA Nation. This will continue to provide these leagues with slots in the NISA Independent Cup and began a new initiative that provided a national championship to be competed between NISA Nation Regional champions and league winners.[28] In August 2023, NISA Nation announced the association with Florida Gold Coast League.[29] In October 2023, NISA Nation announced their affiliation with Metroplex Premier League, a amateur league from North Texas.[30]

Level League(s)/division(s)
3 National Independent Soccer Association
9 clubs
4 NISA Nation
Texas Region
3 clubs		 NISA Nation
Pacific Region
6 clubs		 NISA Nation
Southwest Region
11 clubs
5 Cascadia Premier League Eastern Premier Soccer League Florida Gold Coast League Metroplex Premier League Mountain Premier League Southwest Premier League

Cascadia Premier League

Level League(s)/division(s)
5 Cascadia Premier League Premier 1
Men's Premier League 1 - Baker Division
5 clubs		 Cascadia Premier League Premier 1
Men's Premier League 1 - Columbia Division
4 clubs		 Cascadia Premier League Premier 1
Men's Premier League 1 - Rainier Division
5 clubs
6 Cascadia Premier League 2
Men's Premier 2 - Cascade Division
5 clubs		 Cascadia Premier League 2
Men's Premier 2 - Pacific Division
6 clubs

Eastern Premier Soccer League

Level League(s)/division(s)
5 Eastern Premier Soccer League
Delaware River Conference
8 clubs		 Eastern Premier Soccer League
Metropolitan Conference
12 clubs		 Eastern Premier Soccer League
Mid-Atlantic Conference
8 clubs		 Eastern Premier Soccer League
Northeast Conference
5 clubs
6 Casa Soccer League Select
Liga 1
5 clubs		 Cosmopolitan Soccer League
Division 1
11 clubs		 Garden State Soccer League
Super Division
10 clubs		 Long Island Soccer Football League
Premier Division
7 clubs		 Maryland Major Soccer League
10 clubs
7 Cosmopolitan Soccer League
Division 2 - East
9 clubs		 Cosmopolitan Soccer League
Division 2 - West
9 clubs		 Garden State Soccer League
A Division - Central
11 clubs		 Garden State Soccer League
A Division - North
11 clubs		 Long Island Soccer Football League
Division 1
7 clubs
8 Cosmopolitan Soccer League
Division 3 - East
7 clubs		 Cosmopolitan Soccer League
Division 3 - West
7 clubs		 Garden State Soccer League
B Division - Central
11 clubs		 Garden State Soccer League
B Division - North
9 clubs		 Long Island Soccer Football League
Division 2
7 clubs
9 Cosmopolitan Soccer League
Division 4
10 clubs

Florida Gold Coast League

Level League(s)/division(s)
5 Florida Gold Coast League
North Division
4 clubs		 Florida Gold Coast League
South Division
4 clubs

Metroplex Premier League

Level League(s)/division(s)
5 Metroplex Premier League
8 clubs
6 Metroplex Premier League 2
West Division
5 clubs		 Metroplex Premier League 2
East Division
5 clubs

Mountain Premier League

Level League(s)/division(s)
5 Mountain Premier League
Eastern Division
6 clubs		 Mountain Premier League
Western Division
2 clubs

Southwest Premier League

Level League(s)/division(s)
5 Arizona Premier League

Men's Open Arizona
7 clubs

 Baja CA San Diego Premier League

Men's Open San Diego

 Enhancement Premier League

Men's Open

 Nevada Premier League

Men's Open Nevada
7 clubs

 Pacific Premier League

Men's Open Pacific
6 clubs

 SoCal Premier League

Men's Open SoCal

6 SoCal Premier League

Second Division
7 clubs

7 SoCal Premier League

Third Division
7 clubs

Current Teams


Pacific Region

Team City Stadium Founded First season
Battleborn FC[31] Minden, Nevada Douglas High School 2021 2022
Bay Area United FC[32] Richmond, California Albany Middle School 2021 2023
JASA FWC FC[33] Redwood City, California Red Morton Park 1999 2023
Modesto Ciy FC[34] Modesto, California Central Catholic High School 2019 2023
Ocelot Stockton TLJ FC[35] Stockton, California Edison High School 2021 2023
Windmill City FC[36] Stockton, California 2022 2023
Laguna FC[37] San Francisco, California 2023 2024

Southwest Region

Team City Stadium Founded First season
Capo FC[38] San Juan Capistrano, California JSerra Catholic High School 2006 2022
Desert FC[39] La Quinta, California Hovley Soccer Park 2020 2023
FC Golden State Force[5] Pomona, California Rio Hondo College stadium 2015 2021
Las Vegas Legends[40] Las Vegas, Nevada Peter Johann Memorial Field 2012 2021
Lions United FC[41] Montrose, California Glendale Sports Complex 2021 2023
Lobos FC[42] West Covina, California Hovley Soccer Park 2016 2023
Ocelot FC[35] Colton, California Colton High School Stadium 2021 2023
Ocelot IE FC[35] Colton, California Colton High School Stadium 2021 2023
Ocelot LA FC[35] Los Angeles, California Colton High School Stadium 2021 2023
Olympiacos CA[43] Huntington Beach, California Orange County Great Park 2012 2023
Temecula FC[44] Temecula, California Chaparral High School 2013 2023

Texas Region

Team City Stadium Founded First season
AC Houston Sur[45] Richmond, Texas Matias Almeyda Training Center 2021 2023
FC Brownsville[46] Brownsville, Texas Brownsville Sports Park 2018 2023
FC Dallas Dynamo[47] Dallas, Texas 2021 2023
Matias Almeyda FC[48] Houston, Texas Matias Almeyda Training Center 2019 2023
Texas Premier[49] Houston, Texas 2016 2023

Former teams

Team City Stadium Founded First season Final season
Chula Vista FC Chula Vista, California Terra Nova Park 1982 2021 2021
New Amsterdam FC II New York, New York Orlin & Cohen Sports Complex 2020 2021 2021
New Jersey Teamsterz FC Bayonne, New Jersey Don Ahern Veterans Memorial Stadium 2017 2021 2021
Steel Pulse FC Baltimore, Maryland Blandair Regional Park West Playground 2019 2021 2021
Valley United FC U23 Scottsdale, Arizona GCU Stadium 2020 2021 2021

Location map

NISA Nation is located in the United States
Battleborn
Battleborn
Bay Area United
Bay Area United
JASA FWC FC
JASA FWC FC
Modesto City FC
Modesto City FC
Ocelot Stockton TLJ FC
Ocelot Stockton TLJ FC
Windmill City FC
Windmill City FC
Laguna FC
Laguna FC
Capo
Capo
Desert FC
Desert FC
Golden State
Golden State
Las Vegas
Las Vegas
Lions United FC
Lions United FC
Lobos FC
Lobos FC
Ocelot FC
Ocelot FC
Ocelot IE FC
Ocelot IE FC
Ocelot LA FC
Ocelot LA FC
Olympiacos CA
Olympiacos CA
Temecula FC
Temecula FC
AC Houston Sur
AC Houston Sur
FC Brownsville
FC Brownsville
FC Dallas Dynamo
FC Dallas Dynamo
Matias Almeyda FC
Matias Almeyda FC
Texas Premier
Texas Premier
NISA Nation clubs
Southwest Region; Pacific Region; Texas Region

Champions

National Championship

Season Champion Runner-up
Fall 2023[50] Northern Virginia FC (EPSL) Las Vegas Legends

Florida Region

Season Champion Runner-up Third place
Spring 2022 Club de Lyon[13] Atletico Orlando Deportivo Lake Mary

Northeast Region

Season Champion Runner-up Third place
Fall 2021 New Jersey Alliance FC[6] New Amsterdam FC II Steel Pulse FC
Spring 2022 New Jersey Alliance FC[13] Union SC New York Braveheart

Pacific Region

Season Champion Runner-up Third place
Spring 2022 Battleborn FC[13] AFC South Bay San Francisco Elite Metro FC
Spring 2023 Battleborn FC[51] JASA RWC Windmill City FC
Fall 2023 Battleborn FC[52] JASA RWC Windmill City FC

Southwest Region

Season Champion Runner-up Third place
Fall 2021 FC Golden State Force[7] Las Vegas Legends Chula Vista FC
Spring 2022 Capo FC[13] FC Golden State Force Las Vegas Legends
Spring 2023 FC Golden State Force[53] Temecula FC Capo FC
Fall 2023 FC Golden State Force Temecula FC Capo FC

Texas Region

Season Champion Runner-up Third place
Fall 2023 FC Brownsville Matias Almeyda FC AC Houston Sur

West Region

Season Champion Runner-up
Fall 2023 Las Vegas Legends[54] FC Golden State Force

Leadership

Name Years Title Ref.
Matt Morse 2022– Managing Director [55]
Kenneth Henriques 2022– Referee Coordinator [56]
Carlos Budyszewick 2023– Director of Expansion and Outreach [12]
Ben Rode 2022– Director of Strategic Initiatives [12]
Matt Morse 2022– Director of Competitions and Affiliates [12]

References

  1. ↑ "NISA NATION PAVES NEW PATH TO PRO SOCCER". NISA Nation. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  2. ↑ Lewis, Michael. "PATHWAY TO THE PROS: NISA Nation is unveiled for amateur clubs seeking greater challenges". Front Row Soccer. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  3. ↑ Ralph, Matthew. "Atlantic City FC first club announced in new NISA Nation league". www.brotherlygame.com. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  4. ↑ "NISA Nation first region set for play". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. September 17, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  5. 1 2 "NISA Nation solidifies second region". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. October 22, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  6. 1 2 "New Jersey Alliance FC earns first ever NISA Nation regional title". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. December 13, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  7. 1 2 "FC Golden state force claims inaugural NISA Nation Southwest Region". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  8. ↑ "NISA Nation earns provisional national league designation from United States Adult Soccer Association". www.nisanation.com. NISA Nation. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  9. ↑ "NISA Naion announces inaugural Florida region schedule". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. March 22, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  10. ↑ "EXxpanded NISA Nation Northeast Region set for play". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. March 24, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  11. ↑ "NISA Nation Pacific Region set to play". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. May 3, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "NISA Nation announces Carlos Budyszewick as new Director of Outreach & Expansion". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. June 26, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 "NISA Nation spring season crowns four champions". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. July 25, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  14. ↑ "NISA Nation announces return of Southwest Division for 2023". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. December 15, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  15. ↑ "NISA Nation announces new Pacific Division for 2023". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. February 21, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  16. ↑ "NISA Nation announces activation of new Texas Region". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. July 21, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  17. ↑ "NISA Nation announces schedules for fall season". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. August 30, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  18. ↑ "NISA announces National Championship tournament for NISA Nation and regional premier league affiliates". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. October 12, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  19. ↑ "NISA Independent Cup announces 2022 schedule". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. June 20, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  20. ↑ "NISA Nation announces five amateur clubs to compete for U.S. Open Cup glory". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. August 18, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  21. ↑ Fontela, Jonah (December 19, 2022). "Nine through to the big time: #USOC2023 fourth round qualifying review". www.USSoccer.com. United States Soccer Federation. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Cali's grassroots strivers CAPO FC making most of cup opportunity". www.USSoccer.com. United States Soccer Association. March 29, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Five NISA Nation clubs begin Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup qualifying this weekend". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. September 7, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  24. ↑ Padilla, Kathryne (November 20, 2023). "2024 US Open Cup Qualifying Final Round: Irvine Zeta's early goal sets tone in win vs. Temecula FC". TheCup.US. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Home". Cascadia Premier League. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  26. ↑ "Pro/Rel focused league NISA secures amateur league affiliation with EPSL". SoccerWire.com. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  27. ↑ Lewis, Michael. "WORKING TOGETHER: NISA partners with Midwest Premier League". Front Row Soccer. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  28. ↑ "NISA reaffirms regional premier league affiliations and announces new NISA Nation championship". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. June 20, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  29. ↑ "NISA Nation announces affiliation with the historic Florida Gold Coast League". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. August 8, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  30. ↑ "NISA NATION ANNOUNCES AFFILIATION WITH THE METROPLEX PREMIER LEAGUENation announces affiliation with the Metroplex Premier League". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. October 18, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  31. ↑ "Battleborn FC joins NISA Nation". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. April 26, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  32. ↑ "Bay Area United joins NISA Nation". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. February 23, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  33. ↑ "JASA RWC joins NISA Nation". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. April 25, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  34. ↑ "Modesto City FC joins NISA Nation". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. March 3, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  35. 1 2 3 4 "Ocelot Academy joins NISA Nation". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. June 29, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  36. ↑ "Windmill City FC joins NISA Nation". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. March 3, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  37. ↑ "Laguna FC joins NISA Nation". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. January 9, 2024. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  38. ↑ "Capo FC Re-joins NISA Nation". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. April 19, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  39. ↑ "Desert FC joins NISA Nation". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. February 17, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  40. ↑ "Las Vegas Legends re-join NISA Nation". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. July 19, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  41. ↑ "Lions United FC joins NISA Nation". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. August 16, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  42. ↑ "Lobos FC joins NISA Nation". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. March 29, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  43. ↑ "Olympiacos CA joins NISA Nation". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. January 25, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  44. ↑ "Temecula FC joins NISA Nation". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. January 11, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  45. ↑ "AC Houston Sur joins NISA Nation". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. July 12, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  46. ↑ "FC Brownsville joins NISA nation". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. August 3, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  47. ↑ "FC Dallas Dynamo joins NISA Nation". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. August 21, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  48. ↑ "Matias Almeyda FC joins NISA Nation". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. July 26, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  49. ↑ "Texas Premier Soccer Club joins NISA Nation". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. August 28, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  50. ↑ "NOVA FC WINS EPIC INAUGURAL NISA NATION NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPNoVa FC wins epic inaugural NISA Nation National Championship". www.NISANation.com. NISA Nation. December 3, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  51. ↑ "Battleborn FC claimed second NISA Nation Pacific Region Title". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. July 14, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  52. ↑ "Week 12: Battleborn FC takes Pacific Region title over Bay Area United". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. November 20, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  53. ↑ "FC Golden State Force score NISA Nation Southwest Region title". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. June 15, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  54. ↑ "Las Vegas Legends FC captures NISA Nation West Region crown". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. November 19, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  55. ↑ "Nation elevates Matt Morse as new lead". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. November 30, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  56. ↑ "NISA Nation taps Kenneth Henriques as Referee coordinator". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. March 18, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
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